Hair & Beauty
Framework Description
APUC's Hair & Beauty framework supplies the products, kits and salon equipment that Scotland's colleges and universities need for hair, beauty and make-up teaching. Let by APUC and advertised on Public Contracts Scotland (notice APR502964), it is split into 11 lots. It runs to 14 March 2027, with an option to extend by 12 months to 14 March 2028.
Context & Use Case
Main users are further education colleges and universities running hairdressing, beauty therapy, nail and theatrical make-up courses, along with their training salons. Departments buy consumables for practical classes, starter kits for students, uniforms and specialist salon equipment. Separate lots for colour houses and wet products let curriculum teams source by brand or product type rather than through one generalist.
Scope of Services
Beauty Products and Beauty Kits; Hair Products and Hair Kits Colour Houses Hairdressing - Wet Products Specialist Skincare; Nail Care Products Theatrical/Specialist Make-up; Wigs and Hair Pieces Uniforms Specialist Salon Equipment Hair and Beauty Disposables - Sustainable Alternatives
Lots
Beauty Products and Beauty Kits; Hair Products and Hair Kits; Colour Houses; Hairdressing - Wet Products; Specialist Skincare; Nail Care Products; Theatrical/Specialist Make-up; Wigs and Hair Pieces; Uniforms; Specialist Salon Equipment; Hair and Beauty Disposables - Sustainable Alternatives
Who Can Apply
Suits professional hair and beauty wholesalers, brand owners, colour houses, salon equipment suppliers and workwear firms that already sell to education. Applications for this framework are closed, so suppliers not appointed at tender cannot join now. The next chance is the re-tender, expected around 14 March 2027, or by March 2028 if APUC extends.
Buyer Benefits
Lecturers and technicians can order course-ready kits and branded colour ranges from vetted suppliers without a tender each term. Eleven lots mean a college can buy specialist items, such as wigs or theatrical make-up, from niche suppliers rather than accepting a generalist's range. A dedicated lot for sustainable disposables helps colleges cut single-use waste in training salons.
Next Steps
Read the Public Contracts Scotland notice (APR502964) to see the lot structure and award criteria used last time. Appointed suppliers should keep course-kit pricing current and check whether APUC takes up the extension to 14 March 2028. Others should decide which lots fit their range, especially the sustainable disposables lot, and start preparing evidence for the re-tender.
How Athena Can Help
Most suppliers here fit two or three of the 11 lots, not all of them. Our framework application specialists can map your range to the right lots and build a pipeline plan so you are ready when APUC re-tenders.
If you already hold a place, our bid writing support helps you win college orders with win themes on student kits, sustainable alternatives and service. We also offer public sector bid consultancy on social value and on pricing that stays profitable on low-margin consumables.
